Looking for a comforting yet effortless side dish that’s packed with flavor? This Tomato Garlic Orzo is a perfect balance of creamy, garlicky goodness with the bright freshness of cherry tomatoes. Made with Mountain High Organics Gluten-Free Orzo, this dish is naturally gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free, making it a fantastic option for various dietary needs.
Whether you’re serving it alongside your favorite entrée or turning it into a satisfying main course, this dish is a delicious way to elevate your meal with minimal effort.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Rich & Creamy
A touch of butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese creates a velvety, luscious sauce that coats every piece of orzo beautifully.
Bright & Flavorful
Juicy cherry tomatoes add a pop of sweetness and acidity, balancing the richness of the dish. Combined with garlic and red pepper flakes, this orzo has just the right amount of warmth and depth.
Quick & Easy
With a simple ingredient list and less than 30 minutes of cooking time, this recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings.
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
¼ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley, plus more for garnish
Freshly cracked black pepper
Make It a Main Course!
While this Tomato Garlic Orzo makes an excellent side dish, you can easily turn it into a satisfying main course by adding: ✔ Cooked Chicken – Grilled, roasted, or shredded chicken pairs beautifully with the creamy, garlicky sauce. ✔ Sautéed Shrimp – Toss some shrimp in butter and garlic, then add them to the orzo for a delicious seafood twist. ✔ Vegetarian Additions – Try roasted mushrooms, spinach, or artichokes for a plant-based boost.
Whether you’re serving this alongside a holiday roast, grilled fish, or enjoying it as a meal on its own, this Tomato Garlic Orzo is a crowd-pleaser. Its creamy, garlicky flavors and simple elegance make it a go-to recipe for any occasion.
Give it a try and enjoy a bowl of comfort and flavor in every bite!
Tomato Garlic Orzo
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Servings: 6
Calories: 145kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More
Nutrition Facts
Tomato Garlic Orzo
Amount Per Serving
Calories 145 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 39mg13%
Sodium 156mg7%
Potassium 100mg3%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 738IU15%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 91mg9%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
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Sheet Pan Lemon Honey Garlic Chicken — juicy strips of chicken, caramelized peppers, sticky-sweet honey garlic sauce… and only one pan to clean. Weeknight win.
There are days I feel like cooking… and then there are days I open the fridge, see chicken, and immediately regret not ordering takeout. This recipe was born on one of those nights. One pan. Zero thinking. Big flavor. And almost no cleanup.
It’s sweet from the honey, garlicky in the best way, a little tangy from the lemon, and just fancy enough that you can sprinkle feta on top and pretend you planned it. I’ve made it more times than I can count lately, mostly when I’m too tired to be impressive, but still want dinner to taste like I tried.
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Honey Garlic Chicken
Because dishes are the enemy. One sheet pan. That’s it. Toss everything on there and call it a day.
The sauce is ridiculous. Honey, garlic, lemon, it bakes into this sticky, golden glaze that makes plain chicken feel like a main event.
It looks like you tried. Add some crumbled feta and lemon wedges and suddenly people think you’re fancy. You don’t need to correct them.
Zero brain power required. If you can whisk a bowl of sauce and spread things on a pan, you’re good.
Works with what you’ve got. Swap the peppers, skip the feta, use thighs, it forgives just about anything except overcooking.
Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes
Cut the chicken into strips. Yes, strips. Not chunks, not cubes. Strips cook fast, soak up more sauce, and give you those golden edges we love. Bonus: they look like you did something fancy.
Use what you’ve got. No red bell pepper? Use yellow, green, or whatever’s hiding in the veggie drawer. This recipe isn’t precious, it’s flexible. Mushrooms, zucchini, even thin green beans all work.
Fresh lemon > bottled. I know you’ve got that plastic lemon in the fridge door. Put it down. The zest alone is worth using a real lemon. It makes the whole dish pop.
Don’t overcrowd the pan. If everything’s piled on top of each other, you’ll end up steaming the chicken instead of roasting it. Give it space to crisp up and caramelize. No one likes soggy sheet pan dinners.
Feta on top = salty magic. Don’t mix it in before baking. Crumble it over at the end so it stays tangy and creamy. You’re welcome.
How To Make Sheet Pan Lemon Honey Garlic Chicken
Here’s how I make it:
Crank it to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper so cleanup doesn’t ruin your night.
In a big bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, minced garlic, lemon zest, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. It should smell like you know what you’re doing, because you do. Add the chicken strips and bell peppers to the bowl. Give everything a good toss so it’s coated in that glossy, sticky marinade. You want every bite to taste like flavor, not just the first one.
Spread it all out on your sheet pan. No overlapping, this isn’t a chicken pile. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken hits 165°F (75°C) and the edges start to caramelize. That’s when the magic happens.
Let it sit for 5 minutes, it keeps the chicken juicy and gives you a second to feel proud of yourself. Then crumble feta over the top and serve it with lemon wedges. Boom. Dinner.
This one’s become a regular in our dinner rotation, because it just works. Easy, quick, and that sweet lemon-garlic glaze? Still gets me every time. If it didn’t hold up, it wouldn’t be on the blog. Simple as that.
How To Serve It
This chicken is all about that sticky-sweet glaze, so you’ll want something to soak it up:
Absolutely. Boneless, skinless thighs work great and stay super juicy. Just cut them into strips like the recipe calls for and you’re good to go.
What vegetables can I swap in?
Whatever you’ve got. Zucchini, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, this is a clean-out-the-fridge kind of dish. Just make sure everything’s cut to cook evenly with the chicken.
I don’t like feta. Can I skip it?
I mean… you can, but I’ll silently judge you. Feta adds that salty, creamy, tangy magic that pulls the whole thing together. But hey, if you must, swap in goat cheese or Parmesan. Just know the feta is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Totally. You can mix the marinade and chicken the night before and keep it in the fridge. Just dump it all on a sheet pan and bake when you’re ready.
How spicy is it?
Not at all, as written, it’s kid-and spice-wimp friendly. Want heat? Add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of chili oil.
Storage + Reheating
Fridge:
Leftovers? Lucky you. Store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer:
Yes, you can freeze it. Just let it cool completely, then stash it in a freezer-safe container. It’ll keep for up to 3 months, just don’t forget about it back there.
To Reheat:
Microwave works fine for a quick fix, but if you want that roasted edge back? Pop it in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10–12 minutes. Add a fresh squeeze of lemon and pretend it’s Day 1.
Try These Sheet Pan Dinners Next
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Sheet Pan Lemon Honey Garlic Chicken
Prep 15 minutesminutes
Cook 25 minutesminutes
Total 40 minutesminutes
Sweet, sticky, zesty, and ready in under 40, this sheet pan lemon honey garlic chicken is a weeknight lifesaver. Juicy chicken strips roasted with red peppers in a garlicky honey-lemon glaze, finished with a salty hit of feta. One pan, big flavor, almost no cleanup.
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey, minced garlic, lemon zest, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Add the chicken breasts and peppers to the bowl and toss everything well, making sure to coat everything evenly.
Spread the chicken and veggies on the prepared baking sheet. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
Once the chicken is done, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the top of the chicken and red bell peppers.
Serve the chicken and red bell peppers with lemon wedges.
Notes
Chicken strips cook faster and stay juicier. Just make sure they’re roughly the same size so everything roasts evenly.
Don’t crowd the pan. Overlapping chicken = steaming, not roasting. Give everything space to caramelize.
Use fresh lemon. The zest and juice make the whole thing sing, skip the bottled stuff.
Add more veggies. Mushrooms, zucchini, red onion, whatever’s in the fridge works.
Feta is not optional. OK, technically it is… but I love it so much I almost put it in bold. That salty finish? It makes the dish.
